HF 4398

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/11/2020 11:39am

A bill for an act
relating to waters; establishing a water quality and storage program; appropriating
money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 103F.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [103F.05] WATER QUALITY AND STORAGE PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section:
new text end

new text begin (1) "board" means the Board of Water and Soil Resources; and
new text end

new text begin (2) "local units of government" has the meaning given under section 103B.305,
subdivision 5.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Establishment; purpose. new text end

new text begin The Board of Water and Soil Resources must establish
a grant program to provide financial assistance to local units of government and private
landowners to control water volume and rates for the purposes of protecting infrastructure
and improving water quality and related public benefits.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Grants. new text end

new text begin The board must distribute money appropriated for the purposes of this
section equally to soil and water conservation districts. Soil and water conservation districts
must use the money for the purposes of this section and may use the money for:
new text end

new text begin (1) soil and water conservation district projects; and
new text end

new text begin (2) grants to local units of government and private landowners.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Grants; priority. new text end

new text begin (a) Soil and water conservation districts must establish a
grant process for local units of government and private landowners to apply for money
received under this section. The process must include a grant application and scoring process
that is accessible to the general public and requires only a brief application for projects with
a total cost under $.......
new text end

new text begin (b) When scoring grants, a soil and water conservation district must give priority to
projects that:
new text end

new text begin (1) are consistent with the purposes of the Forever Green agriculture initiative, including
those that incorporate perennial and winter-annual crops into existing agricultural practices;
new text end

new text begin (2) convert agricultural lands prone to flooding to alternative uses that store or slow
water; and
new text end

new text begin (3) have a nonstate match.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Technical assistance. new text end

new text begin The board must provide assistance to soil and water
conservation districts to implement this section, including providing guidance for establishing
grant processes, providing technical assistance, and evaluating the effectiveness of completed
projects constructed under the program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Interstate cooperation. new text end

new text begin The board may enter into or approve working
agreements with neighboring states or their political subdivisions to accomplish projects
consistent with the program established in this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Federal aid availability. new text end

new text begin The board must regularly complete an analysis of the
availability of federal funds and programs to supplement or complement efforts consistent
with the purposes of this section and make the information available to soil and water
conservation districts.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By January 15, 2023, and every two years thereafter, the board must
evaluate the effectiveness of the program under this section and submit a report with the
results and recommendations to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of
representatives and senate committees and divisions with jurisdiction over environment and
natural resources.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the Board of Water
and Soil Resources for the water quality and storage program under Minnesota Statutes,
section 103F.05. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2023.
new text end